Using Alerts

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Alert is a visual or/audio/e-mail notification triggered when the market conditions meet the criteria specified in the study. Audio/visual/e-mail alerts can be enabled simultaneously.

Alerts can only be triggered in studies containing Alert Triggering Conditions in their code. To learn how to add alerts to studies’ code refer to the PowerLanguage manual.

A check for the alert triggering conditions is performed whenever one of the following events occurs:

  • Workspace is opened
  • Data series (symbol) is replaced with another data series (symbol)
  • A bar is closed or a new tick is received


Enabling Alerts

Alerts can be enabled from the Format Indicator window:

  1. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  2. Select the Alerts tab.
  3. Check the Enable Alerts check box to enable alerts; uncheck the box to disable the alerts.
Tip: To use these alert settings as the default for all indicators, check Use as Default check box.


Alert Conditions Check

You can elect whether to check for Alert Triggering Conditions every time a new tick is received, or only at the close of each bar.
Alert Conditions Check can be set from the Format Indicator window:

  1. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  2. Select the Alerts tab.
  3. In the Alert Conditions Check section click the On Bar Close, Every Tick or the Once Per Bar radio button, to select the alert triggering conditions to be checked at the close of each bar only, every time a new tick is received or every time a new tick is received once per bar only, respectively.
Tip: To use these alert settings as the default for all indicators, check Use as Default check box.


Audio Alerts

A PC speaker beep or a sound file played by the PCs sound card can be set as the audio alert type.


Setting Beep Alert

Alerts can be set from the Format Indicator window:

  1. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  2. Select the Alerts tab.
  3. In the Audio Alert section, check the Audio Alert check box to enable audio alerts; uncheck the box to disable the audio alerts.
  4. Click the Beep radio button to set the PC speaker beep as the audio alert type.
Tip: To use these alert settings as the default for all indicators, check Use as Default check box.


Setting Sound Alert

Alerts can be set from the Format Indicator window:

  1. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  2. Select the Alerts tab.
  3. In the Audio Alert section, check the Audio Alert check box to enable audio alerts; uncheck the box to disable the audio alerts.
  4. Click the Sound radio button to select a .wav sound file as the audio alert type.
  5. Enter the path and name of the wave (.wav) sound file to be used into the File text box, or click the ... button on the right side of the text box for Open dialog box, navigate to and select a sound file, and click the Open button.
  6. Click the Test button to test the alert.
  7. Click the Play Once or the Repeat radio button, for the alerts to be played once or repeatedly, respectively.
Tip: To use these alert settings as the default for all indicators, check Use as Default check box.


Visual Alert

Alerts can be set from the Format Indicator window:

  1. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  2. Select the Alerts tab.
  3. In the Visual Alert section, check the Visual Alert check box to enable visual alerts; uncheck the box to disable the visual alerts.
  4. In the Display Notify Window for drop-down list box select the length of time that the alert notification window is to be displayed for.
Tip: To use these alert settings as the default for all indicators, check Use as Default check box.


E-mail Alert

E-mail alerts can be sent when market conditions meet your defined criteria.

This feature can be used to stay informed about market conditions while away from the computer.

To add alert to study:

  1. Make sure the study's PowerLanguage code contains alert code so that alerts will be triggered.
  2. Open the Format Indicator window.

    To open the Format Indicator window, position the mouse pointer over the indicator; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png.

    The Format Indicator window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over an indicator; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Format Indicator Name
      - Open the Format Objects window; in the Indicators tab, select an indicator and click the Format button. See Opening Format Objects Window.

    Note: The Format Indicator window for the indicator being inserted will open automatically if the Format check box in the Insert Study window is checked.

  3. Select the Alerts tab.
  4. Check Enable Alerts checkbox to enable alerts.
  5. Check the E-mail Alert checkbox.
  6. Press the Settings button. The E-mail Alert window will appear.
  7. Enter the email address of the sender.
  8. Enter the email address of the recipient. To send the email to multiple recipients, separate each email address with a semi-colon.
  9. Enter the SMTP Server Name or IP address, and Port number into the textboxes. Please get this information from your email provider.
  10. Check the SMTP Server authentication data checkbox if your SMTP server requires authentication to send emails. Enter the User name and Password.
  11. Press the Test button to send a test email.

    If the sending process has been successful a message will appear in the pop-up window
    AlertEmailOK.gif

    If the sending process has been unsuccessful a message will appear in the pop-up window:
    AlertEmailFailed.gif
  12. Press OK to close the E-mail Alert window.

    Example of Email Alert Message:

    01.10.2008 17:48:50   (alert time and date)
    Source: Bollinger Bands   (study that triggered alert)
    Symbol: ESZ8   (traded symbol name)
    Resolution: 1 Tick Bar   (resolution used)
    Price: 1157,5000   (price value at the moment when defined conditions has been met)
    Message: Price crossing over lower price band (message carrying information about the study condition that has been met)

Note: Not all e-mail service providers are supported. E-mail alerts configuration should be tested prior to use.


Example:
Gmail SMTP server address: smtp.gmail.com
Gmail SMTP user name: Your full Gmail address (e.g. example@gmail.com)
Gmail SMTP password: Your Gmail password
Gmail SMTP port: 465
Gmail SMTP TLS/SSL required: yes (SSL)


Note: Hotmail.com e-mail service is not supported.


Note: Access for less secure apps shall be enabled in the e-mail account settings.


Example for Gmail:

In your Gmail please go to Settings, then Accounts and Import tab, Change account settings: section and click on Other Google Account settings. After redirect click on Sign-in and security, scroll down the page until Apps with account access section, make sure Allow less secure apps is enabled.


Using alerts in drawings

Drawings are intended to work with symbol data and they react to price changes. So alerts can be triggered only by the drawings applied to symbols. Drawings applied to indicators won’t give any alerts as long as indicators don't have prices, but only plots, so drawings can never cross a price and therefore no alerts will be triggered when drawings cross indicator plots.